Shaft-bearing.



No. 831,874. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906 A. E. KEITH.

SHAFT BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1904.

UNITED STAiIES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER E. KEITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHAFT-BEARING- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906 Application lllod Number 0,1904. sum s 281.978. K

shafts which have both rotary and endwise movement s.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is'the provision of a slmple and efficient beam of the foregoin character; and a specia object is to provi s shearing in which a sh'afitcan be supported forboth rotar and endwise movements, which can be eas a, plied to the structure comprising such s s t, andflwhich will also serve as an oil-bearin for lubricating the shaft, it being essentia in this'res'pect thatl a. passer lubrication and a onsequent perfect freedom of movement on the partpf the shaft be obtained without danger ofthrowfing or'spattei ingdhe oil, and

it is also an ohjebt; ofcoui-se, to provide cer-v tain details tendigg to increase the eneral efliciency and ser usability-oi a sh t-bearin of this pafitihillai dharacter. p

o the forego ng ndother useful ends my invention cohsiffitsm the matters hereinafter set fort haild claimed;

, In th accompanying drawings, Figure 1 I 'is 'a front elevatl'onof a portion of a structure comprising an endwise and rotary shaift embodying the rinc1-,

mo dfii bearing ples of my invention. Fig. 2 is a ho zontal sectiomon line 2 2 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the upper bearing shown in Fig. 1. FigAisa perspective of one of the oil-boxes comprised in s 'd bearin s. Fi 5 shows a cofip e of the rg or was ers of elt or other suitable materi which are mounted'in' said boxes and which constitute a sort of packing for holding the oil or other lubricant. j"

I In Fig. the structure shown comprises a og; sh t. [B bi -a. well-known form-of automatic switch now employed iflnertain kinds of antomatic telephone systems. The said shaft is supported in bearings O and I), embodying the principles oi my invention, It is a matcan be held in place b A and therotary and vertical switchhave perfect freedom of movement, not only 11p and down or endwise, but also in a rotary manner. It will be readily understood, however, that in improved bearings, althou h of marked va ue in oonnectlon with a switc ing device of the type shown, may nevertheless be employed in connection with any other kinds of machinery in which the may ,be found ap licable or useful. As s own, the bearing C is mounted upon the top of the said body A; while the bearing D is mounted on the bottom of said body. As the two bearings are of substantially the samecons, 'struction, a description, of one will suflice 02 both. The bearing C, for example, comprises abox '0, preferably cup-shaped in char--* ester and provided with an 0 enmg c,which extends through one side wall and also-partially across its bottom wall. Inaddition the said box is provided with lateral or oppositely-arran ed lugs 0, having oppositelyarranged note as c, adapted to serve as bolt or screw openings. Thus constructed the said box is ,ada ted to contain a plurality of split riilgstb 0 felt or other suitable material, the same encircling the shaft B v as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These rings are adapted to fit the interior of the box a and a bearing-plates". Screws 0, extending ownwardly through 0 eninfis in the said bearing-plate and t oug the opening 0 and into the u per portion of the said body A, are employs for olding the hearing in place. It will e seen at this juncture that the box a hangs in a recess' a, formed in the op of the said body. With this arrangeme t each bearing comprises a box containing a suitable lpacking, which is held in place by a bearing-p ate havi a round opening in which the said shaft i lree to move up and down and rotate.

As illustrated, it is evident that the box' for each bearing is readily removable by simply loosening the screws and without the but to prevent the oil from dripping or running down the shaft. embodies a combined shaft lubricating and wiping device. Broadly considered, there fore, my invention contemplates the combination of a rotary and endwisc-movable shaft supported in a bearing provided with a box or chamber containing packing or other suitable material in contact with the shaft throughout the latters circuinference, which is saturated with oil or other lubricant and which thereby keeps the shaft thoroughly lubricated without permitting the oil to run down the shaft or be thrown or spattered about.

Obviously both the cup or receptacle and the felt rings are removable in a direction laterally of the shaft. Consequently the. en tire wiping means or device can be removed without removing any other part of the structure. In other words, the cup and the rings can be applied to the shaft without taking the machinery apart, and the same can then be removed without disturbing the shaftor removing it from its bearings. In this wa the wiping means or device is readily removable for urposcs of repair or substitution.

It wil be understood that the shaft B can be rotated and shifted endwise by any suit able means. For example, in a telephoneswitching machine of the character indicated the teeth X, together with a suitably-operated awl, (not shown,) constitute the means for givin r the shaft a vertical endwise movement. he ratchet-teeth Y, together with another pawl, (not shown) constitute the means for giving the shaft a step-bystep rotary movement. In this .way the shaft is moved up and down and also rotated, and durin such movements it is lubricated by the oi -saturated split rings in the box or cup C, and at the same time the oil is prevented from gumming on the shaft.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. A shaft, a bearingin which said shaft is supported for both rotary and endwise movements, a lubricating device comprisin a chamber, oil-saturated acking contained in said chamber, said pac ing in contact with the shaft throughout the circumference of the latter, said chamber removable in a direction laterally of the shaft, and oppositely arranged screws 0" holding the bearing in place, there being a pair of o )ositely-ar ranged lu s rigid with the said lubricating device an enga ing said screws, the bearing closing the top 0 the lubricating device.

2. A shaft, a bearing in which said shaft is supported for both rotary and, endwise inove In fact, each bearing ments, a lubricating device coniprising a sheet-metal box, a packmg encircling the shaft, contained in said box, m contact with 'the latter throughout its circumference,

saturated with a suitable lubricant, said box removable in a direction laterally of the shaft, and fastening-scrcws for the bearing, there being oppositely-arrangcd lugs rigid with the lubricating device and provided with notches r engaging said screws, the lubricating device removable wit] iout removing said screws. 3. A shaft, a hearing in which said shaft is supported for both rotary and endwise movements, a lubricating device comprising a hori zontal box, oil-saturated split rings of suitable material encirclin said shaft, contained in said box, in contact with theshaft throughout its circumference, said box and rings removable in a direction laterally of the shaft, and oppositely-arran ed screws 0 holding the bearing in place, here being a pair of oppositely-arranged lugs rigid with the said ibricating device and engaging said screws,

the bearing closing the top of the lubricatii'ig device.

4. A shaft, a bearing in which said shaft is supported for both rotary and endwise movements, a lubricating device comprising a laterally-recessed removable box, oil-saturated packing for lubricating the bearing, contained in said box, adapted for wiping said shaft throughout its circumferencc,-said box removable in a direction laterally of the shaft, and fastening-screws for the bearing, there being oppositely-arranged lugs rigid with the lubricating device and provided with notches c engaging said screws, the lubricating (ii-. vice removable without removing said screws.

5. A shaft, a bearing which said shaft is supported for both rotary and endwise movements, a lubricating device comprising a ring of oil-saturated fiber which both lubricates and wipes the shaft clean when it moves up and down, said fiber removable in a direction laterally of the shaft, means for sup orting the said rin and oppositely-arranger screws c holding t 1e bearing in place, there being a pair of oppositely-arranged lugs rigid with the said lubricating device and engagin said screws, the bearing closing the top of t e inbricating device.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 28th day of October, 1904.

ALEXANDER E. KEITH. Witnesses:

R. H. BURFEIND,

(J. GIFroRo. 

